Arnaud Dolmen & le Vitygroove

It's always moving to witness the birth of a band, and the one that performed last night at La Dynamo in Pantin has a bright future ahead of it.

Led by one of the best jazz drummers of recent years, Arnaud Dolmen, the man radiates happiness when he plays and when he talks to the audience.

Alongside him is Le Vitygroove: Sophye Soliveau on harp and vocals, Gabriel Gosse on electric guitar, Carl-Henri Morisset on keyboards, Swaéli Mbappé on electric bass and Adriano Tenorio on percussion (all of whom sing along with the music, their voices rainbowing Sophye Soliveau's).

In other words, it's a kind of all-star show where no one takes the spotlight and everyone puts their heart and soul into making sure that beauty triumphs.

Vitrygroove's music has a subtle Caribbean flavour; the groove is omnipresent, a nurturing pulse that makes children dance and older children clap their hands.

As part of his artistic residency at La Dynamo de Banlieues Bleues, Arnaud Dolmen met Sophye Soliveau to create the magnificent ‘Bat'man de Chœurs’ project. (Musical actions have been part of the DNA of Banlieues Bleues for ages). His stage presence is radiant, his voice solar and magnetising, his harp playing all stardust.

We haven't finished talking about Vitrygroove and Sophye Soliveau; we haven't finished waiting for their respective debut albums - the band's is due out next year, the harpist's next month... - and we haven't finished thinking about this memorable concert.

Fred Goaty